Boxer and Everton fanatic Tony Bellew has said he would trade in his fighting career and belts to play football for his team for just £5 an hour.

The Liverpool-born athlete, who won a world title fight at Goodison Park last year, told BBC Radio 5 Live that, to him, Everton “is life”.

Speaking on the Friday Football Social with presenters Jermaine Jenas and Darren Fletcher, Bellew said: “People say to me all the time ‘Tone, if you could be world champion boxer, which I’ve been and before I was world champion, would you be a boxer or would you play for Everton?

“And my response is always the same – I just say, ‘boy, do you think I enjoy getting punched in the face?’

“Mate, I would walk out... if I could be a consistent number 9 for Everton Football Club I would trade all the belts, I would even do it for like £5 an hour. I’m not even joking.”

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The lifelong Everton fan frequently attends games at Goodison including getting a helicopter to the win over West Bromwich Albion in March.

Bellew, who also featured in fight scenes at Everton’s ground in the movie Creed, said: “I love football, I only dream... every morning I wake up, I look at my legs, and I go on through the rest of the day disappointed and think I haven’t woke up and the footballer’s legs are in the bed so... I’m wounded, mate.”

He won the WBC cruiserweight title with his Goodison fight against Ilunga Makabu.

His status was recently changed to Emeritus Champion, which gives him the option of continuing to fight in the heavyweight division.

Tony Bellew at Goodison Park

Bellew beat David Haye at heavyweight in March.

He was publicly backed by Everton manager Ronald Koeman in the build-up to that fight and Bellew was full of praise for the Everton boss during the interview.

The boxer also hinted that Koeman commands more respect from the players than previous manager Roberto Martinez did.